Raiders' Team Needs to Fill in 2023 NFL Draft
It's rebuilding time for the Las Vegas Raiders, and much of their early offseason efforts have gone toward turning over the roster and crafting a unit that fits the vision of head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler.
Las Vegas parted with quarterback Derek Carr and replaced him with Jimmy Garoppolo, who played under McDaniels for the New England Patriots. They also traded tight end Darren Waller, added former Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers and added players like linebacker Robert Spillane, tight end Austin Hooper and safety Marcus Epps.
The Raiders will continue reloading in next month's draft, where they hold 12 picks, including the seventh overall selection.
Here, we'll dive into the top remaining needs for the Raiders and some potential targets in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Cornerback
1 of 3
The Raiders have thrown some darts at the cornerback position this offseason, adding the likes of David Long, Duke Shelley and Brandon Facyson. However, it would behoove Las Vegas to continue bolstering the position in the draft.
Pass defense was one of the Raiders' biggest liabilities in 2022. Las Vegas ranked 29th in passing yards allowed and 28th in yards per attempt allowed (6.7) while tallying a mere six interceptions on the season.
The Raiders could use some big-play potential in their secondary, and it wouldn't be a complete shock to see them use their top selection on a blue-chip cornerback prospect like Penn State's Joey Porter Jr.
"Porter is the best cornerback in this draft class. He may not be as polished as some of the other top cornerbacks in previous classes, but with his length and physicality, he's comparable," Cory Giddings of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote.
Oregon's Christian Gonzalez is another top prospect and was recently mocked to Las Vegas by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
If the Raiders move down in Round 1, prospects like Utah's Clark Phillips III and South Carolina's Cam Smith could be on their radar. If they target a different position early, Day-2 prospects like Georgia's Kelee Ringo and Syracuse's Garrett Williams could become logical choices.
Edge-Rusher
2 of 3
While the Raiders need to see improvement in their secondary, that secondary could benefit greatly from a better pass rush. Despite signing Chandler Jones last offseason, the Raiders once again struggled to get to the quarterback in 2022.
As a team, Las Vegas compiled a mere 27 sacks.
If there's an early run on quarterbacks—which seems entirely possible now that the Carolina Panthers hold the No. 1 pick—Las Vegas might be able to move up a spot or two and grab Alabama's Will Anderson Jr., who is both the top pass-rusher and top overall prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's draft board.
Other elite pass-rushing prospects like Clemson's Myles Murphy, Georgia's Nolan Smith and Iowa's Lukas Van Ness could also get consideration at No. 7—or if the Raiders move down a bit in Round 1.
If Las Vegas doesn't grab a pass-rusher on opening night, prospects like Georgia Tech's Keion White, and Iowa State's Will McDonald IV will almost certainly garner consideration on Day 2.
The Raiders hold the 38th overall selection and could spend Thursday night and early Friday pondering a move up in Round 2 to secure the top remaining pass-rusher on their board.
Quarterback
3 of 3
Adding Garoppolo shouldn't prevent Las Vegas from targeting a quarterback somewhere in the 2023 draft. In fact, it's a virtual necessity, as 2022 undrafted free agent Chase Garbers is the only other signal-caller currently on the roster.
Garoppolo may be a better fit for McDaniels' offense than Carr, but he isn't really an upgrade at the position. He's also 31 years old and has an extensive injury history. He isn't a long-term solution under center, and he cannot be counted upon to play a full 17-game slate.
The Raiders need to find a quarterback of the future, though that will be difficult without a trade up from No. 7. The Panthers will presumably take a quarterback at No. 1. The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are also likely to take signal-callers with the second and fourth picks, respectively.
In a best-case scenario, the Raiders will likely have a shot at whoever is left among the top four QB prospects—Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Florida's Anthony Richardson, Alabama's Bryce Young and Kentucky's Will Levis. That's if a team doesn't jump Las Vegas to secure QB4.
The Raiders appear to be weighing their quarterback options for Round 1, as they recently met with Young, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
If Las Vegas doesn't grab a quarterback at No. 7 (or earlier), prospects like Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, Stanford's Tanner McKee and UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson should garner attention.
Even if the Raiders don't target their quarterback of the future in this year's draft, they must add depth at the game's most important position.
.jpg?w=256 "Bills Jaguars Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Bills Jaguars Football")
